Colostomy device



Sept. 1, 1942; c. B. CARHART COLOSTOMY mavxcn Filed March 29, 1941INVENTOR. CORA 5 CAR/VARY;

A TTORNCYS Patente d Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEApplication March 29, 194-1, Serial No. 385,883

4 Claims.

This invention relates to colostomy devices and has for its principalobject the provision of effective means for the capture of fecal orother matter drained from the body as well as gases emitted therefrom inpost operative care.

Another object of theinvention is the provision of a colostomy devicewhich can be conveniently and comfortably worn during convalescence.

Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide a device ofthe character described having a detachable element adapted to be formedinto a bag or receptacle for the matter drained or gases emitted, whichmay be thrown away or conveniently removed for purposes of cleaning.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as thisspecification proceeds.

I am aware of the prior art devices designed for the purposes for whichthis invention is intended and the practicesresorted to overcome theproblems involved, but they have been uniformly unsatisfactory for manyreasons, including extreme bulkiness, discomfiture to the patient,uncleanliness and high costs.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior artdevices and practices in a simple yet highly eflicient manner. terms,the objects of this invention are attained by means of a ring adapted tooverlie the body opening and an open ended sleeve having an orificetherethrough into which a portion of the ring fits to establishcommunication, the sleeve being adapted to be folded upon itself to forma bag or receptacle.

Referring now to the drawing wherein a preferred form of the inventionis illustrated:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the invention, in folded position readyfor use,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device in unfolded position with aportion of the sleeve broken away for clarity,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the sleeve part of the device,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the peripheral edge of the ring element.

The numeral l0 indicates an elongated sleeve of a thin, transparent, buttough material having requisite degrees of air and waterproofness. As apreferred material I mention Pliofilm, a rubber hydrohalide productmanufactured by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company,

In general of Akron,

Ohio. However, it will be obvious that other materials of like characterwill be suitable for the purpose of the invention. An important factoris that the material of the sleeve l0 shall be inexpensive. The sleeveI0, is for obvious economy,

formed from 'a rectangular blank of the material, folded lengthwise onceupon itself and having the abutting edges secured together, as at ll(see Fig. 5), by heat sealing or the use of a suitable adhesive.

The sleeve I0 is additionally provided with an orifice l2 through one ofits walls, in spaced relation to its upper end, to receive a ring 13 inthe manner about to be described. The orifice I2 is cut, for obviousefficiency of manufacture, while the sleeve I0 is in the blank ofmaterial.

Ring I3 is provided with an inner, relatively wide fiange l4 adapted topress against the body of the patient and surrounding the opening intothe same, and an outer beaded flange l5 which enters the orifice l2 insleeve I0. Additionally, ring I3 is provided with a pair of laterallyprojecting ears Hi to which the ends of a body encircling belt may beattached to hold the in vention in place. The means for attaching theends of belt I! to ears l6 may be any one of a number of conventionalconnectors and forms no part of this invention.

It should be mentioned at this point that the thickness of the materialof sleeve I0 has been greatly exaggerated in the drawing solely forpurposes of illustration.

When the sleeve Ill and ring l3 have been thus assembled the resultingstructure will be that A illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. As

will be clearly noted from Fig. 3 the sleeve I0 is open at both its topand bottom ends.

The next operation in making the device ready for use is to fold thebottom portion of the sleeve In outwardly and upwardly upon itself, inthe manner. illustrated to best advantage in Fig. 5 of the drawing, Inthis operation the top and bottom edges of the sleeve are drawn togetherpreparatory to lap folding these edges to render the bag or receptaclesubstantially air and moisture tight. I have found that an effectivejoint between the top and bottom edges of the sleeve l0 can be made byfirst folding the corners inwardly on the diagonal as at l8 (see Fig. 1)and then lap folding the transverse edges several times as shown in Fig.5. When thus folded the receptacle may be maintained in closed conditionby the use of suitable clamp suchas that shown in Fig. 1 at 20.

When thus assembled and applied to the person my device has been foundto be highly eiiective for the purpose intended. It not only capturesand retains for suitable and convenient disposal the matter drainedthrough the body opening, but as well seals 01!, at least substantially,the obnoxious gases usually emitted from the body.

Additionally, my device is extremely thin in comparison to the prior artstructures and practices and may therefore be worn beneath clothingwithout discomflture or embarrassment from untidy appearance.

It is within the intendment of my invention that the sleeve l may beperiodically replaced for sake of cleanliness and the relative low costof the material and manufacture of the sleeve makes this possible.However, it it be desired to prolong the use of the sleeves the devicemay be readily cleaned by simply opening it to the position shown inFig. 3. A stream of water or other cleanser passed throughout the lengthof the sleeve l0 and through the ring I! will renew it for further useas a unit.

While I have described my device as adapted for use in colostomy cases,it may be understood the invention will be equally useful in other caseswherein drainage from a. body opening is a factor of post operativecare. Moreover, my invention may take iorms other than that illustratedand described herein without departing from the principles involved.

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical appliance comprising a ring member adapted to overlie abody orifice, a flexible sleeve in communication with the interior ofsaid ring member and having oppositely extending, open-ended portionsextending beyond said ring member; the lengths sufllcient to permitinteriolding oi the open ends of said sleeve to form a common closurefor both ends of said sleeve.

2. A flexible, replaceable sleeve for use in a surgical appliance havinga ring member adapted to overlies. body orifice; said sleeve having anaperture engageable with said ring member, and oppositely extendingopen-ended portions extending beyond said aperture: the lengths of saidportions being suiiicient to permit interiolding of the open ends orsaid sleeve while the same is attached to said ring member, whereby toform a common closure for both ends of said sleeve.

3. A surgical appliance comprising a ring member adapted to overlie abody orifice, a substantially straight, flexible sleeve 01'substantially uniform cross-section presenting an unobstructed pathfor aflushing cleanser disposed in communication with the interior of saidring member and having opposite open-ended portions of sufllcient lengthto permit said portions to be juxtaposed and closed by a common closuremeans.

4. A flexible, open-ended, replaceable sleeve for use in a surgicalappliance having a ring member adapted to overlie a body orifice; saidsleeve being substantiallystraight and uniform in crosssection so as topresent an unobstructed path for a flushing cleanser and having anaperture intermediate its ends for engagement with said ring member;said aperture being positioned so as to permit the open ends of thesleeve to be juxtaposed and closed by a common means while said apertureis in engagement with said ring.

CORA B. CARHART.

oi said Portions being

